YMCA continues to became increasingly more popular as Reform UK leader Nigel Farage hails the track as his favourite, but it could also be due to one of his stateside pals being a fan too

Politics

Strictly Come Dancing stars were spotted enjoying some downtime in Leeds during their tour break. Among them, Jamie Borthwick and Jowita Przystal were seen together, further fueling romance rumours.

Society

The former US open champion and British tennis star Emma Raducanu is risking her £10 million sponsorship empire after a string of some meagre results

Economics

The streaming giant announced that the final seasons of Squid Game and Stranger Things will air later this year, but other popular shows were left off the 2025 slate.

Sport

Internal preliminary safety report suggests staffing was lower than it should be for ‘time of day and volume of traffic’, New York Times reportsOfficials say no survivors expected in DC plane crashFirst known victims include figure-skating championsVisual guide – how did the DC plane crash unfold?Multiple media including the New York Times, Reuters and CNN are saying the Black Hawk helicopter was carrying three soldiers. No senior army officials were onboard, they reported, citing US defence officials.Multiple sources are now saying that about 60 people were onboard the American Airlines plane that collided with the helicopter. Continue reading...

Events

The 36-year-old Hollyoaks actress was the first celebrity to be eliminated from the programme last week after being voted off in a skate-off against Comedian Josh Jones.

Culture

Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore expected to stay at space station a week but have been there almost eight monthsNasa’s two stuck astronauts took their first spacewalk together on Thursday, exiting the International Space Station almost eight months after moving in.Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore floated out to perform maintenance work and wipe the station’s exterior for evidence of any microbes that might still be alive after launching from Earth and escaping through vents. Continue reading...

Technology

Race for Life will host a series of events over 12 days in the capital this summer

Science

It's believed millions of drivers across the country get it 'wrong' daily when it comes to parking on their driveway

Transport

The traditional broadcasters beat the big players when it came to growing streaming services last year - and the trend has continued in 2025

Politics

The vast majority (91%) of fines issued in the academic year 2023-24 were for unauthorised family holidays, according to the latest figures from the Department for Education (DfE).

Society

Trinny Woodall stars on BBC as the guest Dragon on Thursday night's Dragons' Den - earning her seat on the panel with her worldwide multi million pound beauty empire

Economics

Pep Guardiola is facing a nightmare fixture list as City will encounter four of their toughest games this season in just two weeks

Sport

Discovery by coast guard comes five days after skiff containing five bodies found near Trinidad and TobagoThe coastguard of St Kitts and Nevis has discovered 13 decomposing bodies in a boat adrift off the coast, days after another five bodies were found in a skiff near Trinidad and Tobago.Officials of the two Caribbean countries said it was not immediately clear if there was any link between the two incidents, or who the deceased were. Continue reading...

Events

The Human Authored online portal allows members to register their book and use a specially designed logo on covers and promotional materialsThe US body representing writers, the Authors Guild, has launched an online portal for members to confirm that their work “emanated from the human intellect” and not from artificial intelligence.The initiative, called Human Authored, will allow authors to log on to the portal and register their book. They will then be able to use a specially designed logo on book covers and promotional materials to show that their work has been created without AI. Continue reading...

Culture

Nasa says Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams are not stranded and will return to Earth by end of MarchDonald Trump has asked Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring back two astronauts “stranded” in space, despite Nasa saying they are not stranded and will return to Earth by the end of March.Trump said that he had asked Musk and SpaceX to get “the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration”. The US president added on Truth Social: “Good luck Elon!!!” Continue reading...

Technology

Trump’s pick endured tough questions from Bernie Sanders on Wednesday and was accused of ‘peddling half-truths’After Robert F Kennedy’s bruising performance in a heated three-and-a-half-hour Senate confirmation hearing to become America’s top health official on Wednesday, he’s off to the health committee on Thursday morning for round two.The 71-year-old faces another grueling day of questioning from a more health-minded crowd, with Republican chair Bill Cassidy – a physician who caught Kennedy confusing basic facts about Medicare and Medicaid in Wednesday’s session – likely to press further on his grasp of America’s healthcare system. Continue reading...

Science

Raychel Hardingham, 29, was seriously injured when she fell with the child from a blue Volvo on the A1067 Fakenham Road, opposite the Shell petrol station in Taverham, Norfolk, in April 2023.

Transport

The singer was best known for songs such as As Tears Go By and Come And Stay With Me.

Politics

Strictly Come Dancing's Vito Coppola had to pull out of a few shows due to an injury

Society

All the essential cost of living information you need

Economics

‘To a country that doesn’t respect women? I don’t see it’RFEF in dicussions with Saudi Arabia over competitionFemale players in Spain have hit out at plans to take the women’s Supercopa to Saudi Arabia. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has been in negotiations with the Saudis to extend their agreement to play the men’s Supercopa semi-finals and final away from Spain until at least 2034 and include the women’s competition too.However, Barcelona players have now criticised the plans. “Taking the Supercopa outside of Spain and to a country that doesn’t respect women? I don’t see it,” the midfielder Patri Guijarro said after their semi-final win over Atlético Madrid in this year’s edition. Continue reading...

Sport

At least 30 bodies have been recovered from a Washington DC aircraft collision, including a TikTok skating star, a famed athlete couple, and all four flight crew members.

Events

Hollywood's leading lights were playing close attention last night when streaming giant Netflix held its prestigious new-season launch in Los Angeles.

Culture

Or is it? I’m exhausted actuallySign up here to get an email whenever First Dog cartoons are publishedGet all your needs met at the First Dog shop if what you need is First Dog merchandise and prints Continue reading...

Technology

For every vigorous elderly person, there are many others whose decline could be addressed with a pragmatic approachGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA colleague calls me about an octogenarian patient scheduled for cancer surgery.That patient has been “cleared” by anaesthetics and the medical team promises “support” but, despite the reassurances, I can see why the surgeon has her doubts. The patient has several health problems that, taken together, amount to significant impairment. For such patients, even small complications can spell big trouble.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news emailRanjana Srivastava is an Australian oncologist, award-winning author and Fulbright scholar. Her latest book is called A Better Death Continue reading...

Science

The worst offender - a popular battery model built in Britain - loses 73% of its value after just three years of ownership, new data from motoring title Auto Express shows.

Transport

Trump’s nominee to lead FBI also denied having an ‘enemies list’; Tulsi Gabbard faces sharp criticism over past comments sympathetic to RussiaRFK Jr dodges clear answers on vaccines on second day of hearingsGabbard grilled on Snowden, Hezbollah and Putin in tense Senate hearingHere’s some more reaction to Donald Trump’s executive order instructing the military to prepare to house 30,000 immigrants at the US naval base in Cuba.“Guantánamo is a stain on our nation’s honor,” Jerry Nadler, a Democratic congressman from New York, said.For years, I have advocated for its closure, condemning the abuses and glaring lack of accountability that persist there. This massive expansion into a mass detention camp is morally indefensible & raises significant civil liberties concerns.We cannot allow this level of dehumanization to become normalized. We need to shut down Guantánamo once and for all. Continue reading...

Politics

The Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour has been thrown into chaos as yet another star pulls out of the scheduled UK shows, following the news that Wynne Evans will not be participating

Society

Labour should drop its “cruel and poorly thought-out plans” says leading charity

Economics

Trying to keep across 29 hours’ worth of football was not just akin to major substance abuse but a cause of fear and panicRaspberry Beret by Prince, Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees, American Pie by Don McLean, All I Want is You by U2, the theme tune to Sesame Street: these are all in their different ways excellent pieces of music. But as part of playlists broadcast without end and at high volume, all have been used by the US army in psychological warfare – demonstrating that too much of a good thing is not just possible but, at extreme levels, absolutely excruciating. Watching the manic conclusion to the Champions League group stage on Wednesday brought those playlists to mind, as I debated whether I was being entertained or encouraged to run screaming from my house.The trend in sport for many years has been to make competitions bigger, longer, more drawn out, and at first the new 36-team Champions League format felt like another step on this tiresome journey. But the widely acknowled...

Sport

Key Trump ally strives to extricate himself from statements he had made earlier, claiming ‘mischaracterization’Kash Patel sought to allay concerns about his fitness to serve as the FBI director at his Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday, but declined to engage with questioning that explicitly asked whether he would use his position to investigate some of Donald Trump’s top political opponents.The hearing revolved around Patel’s provocative public remarks attacking the FBI and his ability to resist political pressure from the White House, a topic that has come to the fore with the justice department rocked by the ouster of prosecutors who worked on cases against Trump. Continue reading...

Events

I lost my grandmother a couple of years ago. My grief’s sharpness has worn down, and I’m ready to lean into the soft landing of older ladiesI recently had a realisation about myself: I have entered “nanna mode”. This does not mean I’m knitting, drinking enough cups of tea to kill Paddington Bear, or showing the ceiling instead of my face on video calls – nonetheless, I have become steeped in Nanna.I’ve always had a soft spot for older ladies (and ladies of all ages). But I had this lightbulb moment while watching Matlock, a reboot of an 80s TV show starring Kathy Bates as a lawyer in her 70s coming out of retirement – and getting up to shenanigans. Continue reading...

Culture

We didn’t want our opponents to get a sniff this series and victory at the MCG will ensure they have a clean sweep hanging over their heads in the futureIt’s a rare privilege when we get to play a Test. The pinnacle of Australian cricket is putting on your baggy green and this one is even more special and historic as the first day-night Test at the MCG. The opportunity to showcase women’s Test cricket on the big arena will be really important, not only for the game itself but for the group that gets to run out there on Thursday.It’s always like a carrot dangled in front of us when there’s a Test match to be played because we don’t do it that often. It brings a lot more energy and excitement to the group. The vibe is high at the moment, just around the occasion itself and having all our family and friends coming to watch. Hopefully the public gets right behind us and comes out in droves too. Continue reading...

Science

The worst offender - a popular battery model built in Britain - loses 73% of its value after just three years of ownership, new data from motoring title Auto Express shows.

Transport

JEMIMA CAINER: There are times when forward momentum feels like taking a single step - then being met with circumstances that seem to be pushing us back again!

Politics

A second Strictly Come Dancing professional has been forced to pull out of the tour just days after Wynne Evans was axed following his inappropriate sexual joke.

Society

Teenage forward keen to leave German giants in pursuit of first-team football

Economics

Europe's elite club competition is also one of the most lucrative for clubs with Celtic making millions

Sport

NFL star accused of ‘really degrading’ behaviorLawyers for Tucker say claims are ‘utterly baseless’Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has denied allegations accusing him of sexually inappropriate behavior towards massage therapists.The Baltimore Banner spoke to six massage therapists at four spas and wellness centers around the Baltimore area. The accusations include claims that Tucker exposed his genitals, brushed some of the therapists with his penis and left ejaculate on treatment tables. Two spas allegedly banned Tucker from returning. One therapist who spoke to the Banner described Tucker’s alleged behaviour as “really degrading”. Another said that “I can’t watch sports anymore. I see his face everywhere.” Continue reading...

Events

The opera singer had recently been touring the country as part of the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour 2025 with Katya

Culture

It's believed drivers across the country get it 'wrong' daily because they are unaware of what the rule actually is.

Transport

The Oscar-nominated star of Netflix’s musical made racist and Islamophobic remarks in several tweets from 2020Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofia Gascón is under fire after old tweets uncovered a range of troubling opinions on subjects including Islam and George Floyd.The Spanish actor, who recently became the first ever openly transgender person to receive an acting nomination at the Oscars, has since deleted a number of tweets after users, including writer Sarah Hagi, uncovered them. Variety and the Hollywood Reporter have since reported the news and translated older posts. Continue reading...

Politics

The vast majority (91%) of penalty notices were for unauthorised family holidays, the Department for Education said.

Society

Reliance Industries Limited are owned by India’s richest family

Economics

Mikel Arteta’s side finish league phase in third place after comeback victory over Spanish opposition

Sport

The Home Secretary has unveiled proposed new laws to crack down on people smuggling gangs, as part of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.

Events

They were two of the biggest names on ITV and BBC at the end of last year but they're now doing something very new

Culture

The Oscar-nominated star of Netflix’s musical made racist and Islamophobic remarks in several tweets from 2020Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón is under fire after old tweets uncovered a range of troubling opinions on subjects including Islam and George Floyd.The Spanish actor, who recently became the first ever openly transgender person to receive an acting nomination at the Oscars, has since deleted a number of tweets after users, including writer Sarah Hagi, uncovered them. Variety and the Hollywood Reporter have since reported the news and translated older posts. Continue reading...

Politics

Karoline Leavitt made history when she became America's youngest press secretary at 27, but the high achiever is also a devoted mother and loving wife.

Society

Trump’s health secretary pick transferred ownership of Maha slogan application to anti-vaccine ally Del BigtreeRobert F Kennedy Jr, the anti-vaccine activist and conspiracy theorist nominated for US health secretary by Donald Trump, recently applied to trademark his own “Make America Healthy Again” slogan for use in marketing potential products including food supplements, vitamins, essential oils – and vaccines.Documentation filed with the Office of Government Ethics lists $100,000 earned from a “licensing agreement to use Maha brand marks”. Continue reading...

Economics

Bayern and Real Madrid head to playoffs despite winsLeverkusen and Lille in last-16 spots ahead of AtalantaReal Madrid and Bayern Munich both won their final league phase matches but finished a point short of a direct place in the last 16 – leaving their managers worried by the possibility of facing Manchester City in the Champions League playoffs.Real Madrid wrapped up their campaign with a 3-0 win over Brest, who drop into the unseeded playoff teams. Rodrygo gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side a 1-0 half-time lead and Jude Bellingham doubled the advantage shortly after Ludovic Ajorque’s goal was disallowed for the hosts. Continue reading...

Sport

The president is more concerned with attacking the federal government than with putting safety firstFew stretches of airspace on the planet are as busy or as carefully monitored as the skies above Washington DC. Commercial and military aircraft are on the move there at all times. The greatest concentration is around Reagan National airport, the city’s principal domestic hub, which sits on the west bank of the Potomac River within sight of the Capitol dome.No one yet knows how a Black Hawk military helicopter collided with an American Eagle flight from Wichita above the Potomac on Wednesday evening. But the destruction was total. No survivors have been found from among the 64 people on board the flight from Kansas or among the three-strong crew of the helicopter. By early Thursday, the rescue effort was already a recovery operation. Bodies were being lifted from the river’s icy waters through the day.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like ...

Events

Am I Being Unreasonable? series two will see the return of Daisy May Cooper and Selin Hizli in the comedy series as we learn the truth about Alex's death

Culture

Lord Alan Sugar is a household name thanks to his role on The Apprentice, but away from our screens has an impressive collection of lavish properties scattered across the globe

Politics

Officials scrap measure following backlash and court actionWhite House revokes spending freeze in face of legal challengesTim Walz, the Minnesota governor and former Democratic vice-presidential nominee, argued that Donald Trump’s federal funding freeze closely mirrors many of the proposals included in Project 2025.“We were preparing for it. They wrote it out. If you go back and look at that now, you’ll see this go step by step,” Walz told MSNBC last night. Continue reading...

Society

The rise will take the average water and wastewater bill in England and Wales from £480 to £603 for the next year alone. This equates to an increase of around £10 a month, from £40 to £50.

Economics

Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal also linked with teenage forward

Sport

The professional dancer is still riding high after being crowned champion of the 2024 series and has now revealed what's next

Events

A raft of guest stars appear in the new series

Culture

Comedian and actress Miriam Margoyles said, 'I will never forgive myself' as she recalled a moment of 'frustration and rage' while looking after her beloved mum following a stroke

Politics

A labyrinth of tunnels beneath the heart of London is destined for a new lease of life as a tourist attraction with up to three million visitors a year

Society

Live coverage of business, economics and financial news as ECB cuts main interest rate by 0.25 percentage points in effort to support growthIt was a flash reading on the Eurozone economy, so we don’t have the details on what the drivers were. But it’s clear that it was a weak end to 2024.But the European Central Bank might be able to spur a bit of economic growth in the eurozone with looser monetary policy.This marks a weak end to last year, following positive growth in the first three quarters of 2024. As a result, first estimates suggest that the currency bloc as a whole grew by 0.7% in 2024. Declining activity in Germany – the Eurozone’s largest economy – has weighed on the bloc’s growth, with German GDP contracting by 0.2% on the quarter. This suggests Germany has now seen annual declines in activity for two consecutive years.In 2025, further loosening of monetary conditions is expected to provide a modest uptick in activity for both Germany and the Eurozone, with growth expecte...

Economics

John Stones is handed a start on a crucial night for Man City

Sport

Andrew Cornish criticises ‘token’ appointmentsECB has set new targets and could withhold fundingMiddlesex’s chief executive, Andrew Cornish, has risked ­antagonising the England and Wales Cricket Board by appearing to criticise a central ­element of the counties’ new diversity rules that come into force on Saturday.At a club forum last week Cornish told Middlesex members “we’re not gonna be woke and just do ­political correctness” before criticising “token” appointments based on “gender or ethnicity”. Continue reading...

Events

The Apprentice cast for 2025 has been confirmed 👀

Culture

The actor and comedian criticized the rapper for his response to the backlash

Politics

He skied with Bowie, boozed with Madness and recorded the Teardrop Explodes on acid. But does he regret blowing it with Dave Grohl? The great producer relives his smashes, parties and 11am vodkasGiven that he is the producer behind some of the most cherished and idiosyncratic British pop of the 1980s, from Elvis Costello to Dexys Midnight Runners and the Teardrop Explodes, Clive Langer sounds surprisingly bad at predicting what will do well. “I was invited to possibly work with Madonna, around the time of Holiday,” he remembers. “I went to see her at the Music Machine and I just didn’t get it. I still don’t get it.” So he turned her down. And when Dexys laid down Come on Eileen with Langer behind the mixing desk, he didn’t think it would be a hit. “I was completely wrong. I never had the faith.”It duly reached No 1 and became the biggest-selling single of 1982, just one of the many triumphs Langer had with production partner Alan Winstanley. Together they shaped a generation of Brit...

Society

Households across England and Wales are facing increases to their bills, so how can they reduce water usage?

Economics

No David Raya as changes made by Mikel Arteta with crunch Manchester City clash looming

Sport

President turns collision briefing into rant about diversity policies despite no evidence linking DEI to the crash that killed more than 60 peopleOfficials say no survivors expected in DC plane crashFirst known victims include figure-skating championsVisual guide – how did the DC plane crash unfold?Multiple media including the New York Times, Reuters and CNN are saying the Black Hawk helicopter was carrying three soldiers. No senior army officials were onboard, they reported, citing US defence officials.Multiple sources are now saying that about 60 people were onboard the American Airlines plane that collided with the helicopter. Continue reading...

Events

An American Airlines passenger jet collided with a military helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan national airport near Washington DC. Video from an observation camera at the nearby Kennedy Center shows two sets of lights consistent with aircraft appearing to conjoin in a fireball. The American Airlines Flight 5342 departed from Wichita, Kansas, according to the FAA. According to American Airlines’ website, the jet has a capacity for up to 65 passengersAmerican Airlines plane and military helicopter collide at airport near Washington DC Continue reading...

Culture

Trump’s nominee to lead FBI also denied having an ‘enemies list’; Tulsi Gabbard faces sharp criticism over past comments sympathetic to RussiaRFK Jr dodges clear answers on vaccines on second day of hearingsHere’s some more reaction to Donald Trump’s executive order instructing the military to prepare to house 30,000 immigrants at the US naval base in Cuba.“Guantánamo is a stain on our nation’s honor,” Jerry Nadler, a Democratic congressman from New York, said.For years, I have advocated for its closure, condemning the abuses and glaring lack of accountability that persist there. This massive expansion into a mass detention camp is morally indefensible & raises significant civil liberties concerns.We cannot allow this level of dehumanization to become normalized. We need to shut down Guantánamo once and for all. Continue reading...

Politics

Lorraine Kelly has urged Wynne Evans to take some time out to focus on his mental health after he was axed from the Strictly Come Dancing tour following his sex jibe

Society

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has attended John Prescott’s funeral, alongside former UK Labour leaders Tony Blair and Gordon Brown

Economics

Reds name weakened side with Champions League qualification already secured

Sport

Deployment of special forces veterans is unprecedented and poses risk that Americans could be drawn into fightingA US security firm is hiring nearly 100 US special forces veterans to help run a checkpoint in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas truce, introducing armed American contractors into the heart of one of the world’s most violent conflict zones.UG Solutions, a low-profile company founded in 2023 and based in Davidson, North Carolina, is offering a daily rate starting at $1,100 with a $10,000 advance to veterans it hires, according to a recruitment email. Continue reading...

Events

The opera singer, 53, has been embroiled in controversy after he was caught on film by The Mail on Sunday this month making a vile sexual comment about one of the show's female hosts

Culture

Albrecht Weinberg ‘horrified’ that MPs relied on far-right party to pass anti-immigration motionA 99-year-old Holocaust survivor has said he will return his federal order of merit to the German president in protest over MPs passing an anti-immigration motion in parliament with the support of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland.Albrecht Weinberg, whose parents were murdered in Auschwitz, told the Guardian he was “horrified” on learning that a proposal submitted by the conservative parties had relied on the anti-immigrant, xenophobic AfD to get it over the line. Continue reading...

Politics

The German chancellor was speaking ahead of the conservative opposition’s proposals to change asylum laws after killings in AschaffenburgAngela Giuffrida writes from RomeThere’s much debate in Italy today as the country absorbs the news that prime minister Giorgia Meloni is under investigation over the unexpected release and repatriation last week of a Libyan warlord wanted for war crimes by the international criminal court. Continue reading...

Society

Average demand in more than half of London boroughs expected to break £2,000 barrier

Economics

Updates from a tantalising final round of gamesManchester City v Club Brugge – live updatesLive scoreboard | Who needs what | Email ScottWelcome to chaos. There are 36 clubs playing 18 fixtures to determine which eight qualify automatically for the Round of 16 and which 16 go into the play-off round. Here are those fixtures Aston Villa v CelticBarcelona v AtalantaBayer Leverkusen v Sparta PragueBayern Munich v Slovan BratislavaBorussia Dortmund v Shakhtar DonetskBrest v Real MadridDinamo Zagreb v AC MilanGirona v ArsenalInternazionale v MonacoJuventus v BenficaLille v FeyenoordManchester City v Club BruggePSV v LiverpoolRed Bull Salzburg v Atletico MadridSporting v BolognaSturm Graz v RB LeipzigStuttgart v Paris Saint-GermainYoung Boys v Red Star Belgrade Continue reading...

Sport

It comes after chaotic scenes at a hostage handover on Thursday.

Events

Capes! Mini skirts! Heels at the crack of dawn! What celebrities are wearing to the Spring/Summer 2025 couture shows

Culture

The late singer made her share of bad decisions – but someone this artistically adventurous and unafraid was never going to have an ordinary life• News: Marianne Faithfull, singular icon of British pop, dies aged 78It is difficult to think of a moment in pop history less receptive to a 1960s icon relaunching their career than in 1979. At that point, British rock and pop resolutely inhabited a world shaped by punk: it was the year of 2-Tone and Tubeway Army’s Are ‘Friends’ Electric?, of Ian Dury at No 1 and Blondie releasing the bestselling album of the year. And it was a central tenet of punk that the 1960s and their attendant “culture freaks” were, as Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren put it: “fucking disgusting vampiric the most narcissistic generation there has ever been,” and that the decade’s famous names should no longer be afforded the kind of awed reverence they had enjoyed for most of the 70s. “No Elvis, Beatles or the Rolling Stones,” as the Clash had sung.And yet Marian...

Politics

Wide-ranging investigation says impact on work likely to be profound, but opinion on risk of human extinction variesThe International AI Safety report is a wide-ranging document that acknowledges an array of challenges posed by a technology that is advancing at dizzying speed.The document, commissioned after the 2023 global AI safety summit, covers numerous threats from deepfakes to aiding cyberattacks and the use of biological weapons, as well as the impact on jobs and the environment. Continue reading...

Society

Another 18 wannbe business tycoons are about to be put through their paces.

Economics

We look at the state of play before Wednesday’s games with places in the last 16 and playoffs up for grabsIN THE AUTOMATIC SPOTS Continue reading...

Sport

Research shows voters losing faith in traditional centre-left and centre-right to deliver meaningful changeVoters in western democracies are turning away from mainstream political parties and towards populists because they are losing faith in their ability to implement meaningful change, a major report based on surveys of 12,000 voters has found.The popularity of traditional centre-left and centre-right parties across major democratic countries has plummeted from 73% in 2000 to 51% today, according to research by the Tony Blair Institute. Continue reading...

Events

‘When I asked Cary why her white cat Haytoo was covered in dark patches, she said, “Oh, he likes to sleep on the stove and sometimes his fur catches fire”’I was introduced to Cary while working on my project ¡No hay más na’! , which I began in 2022. My portrait of this 65-year-old woman, her goose Axiuli and her cat Haytoo was taken at her home where Cary now lives with her animals. When I first met the cat, I asked why he was covered in dark patches. “Oh, he likes to sleep on the stove,” Cary replied, “and sometimes his fur catches fire, so I have to put it out.”Cary, whose full name is Caridad Ribalta Oviedo, was born just weeks before the Cuban Revolution in 1959. She explained how her home was once the site of a laundry run by her family – Chinese immigrants from Guangzhou who settled in Cuba in the late 19th century. I was struck by her connection with her animals: as well as Axiuli and Haytoo, she has two dogs, Shimao and Tabey – all named in homage to her Chinese ancestors. C...

Culture

This weekend, thousands are expected to head to Manchester City Centre to celebrate the Year of the Snake

Politics

Strictly Come Dancing professional Katya Jones has recently expressed her support for former contestant and partner Wynne Evans after reports he is not taking part in the show's live tour

Society

Israel will reportedly free 110 Palestinian prisoners in exchange Away from Gaza and Israel, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani arrived on Thursday in Damascus, Syria, Al Jazeera reported, the first visit by a foreign head of state since Bashar al-Assad’s fall.The Israeli military said on Thursday that freed Israeli female soldier Agam Berger had been handed over to the army by the Red Cross after her release in Gaza by Hamas. Continue reading...

Economics

Playing for your country is the ultimate sporting honour – and these players have all enjoyed the privilege dozens of times.

Sport

Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC (version played); Jump Over The Age/Fellow TravellerGareth Damian Martin’s dice-driven role-playing game takes you on a space road trip with the flotsam and jetsam of humanityIt’s good to be back in this far-flung future world. Like the game that preceded it, Citizen Sleeper 2 is packed with evocative portrayals of everyday life in outer space, from farmers tending zero-G crops in an asteroid greenhouse to water miners rising up against the cartel that controls them, everyone eking out a meagre existence in crumbling space stations left to rot by a long-dead mega corporation.Once again you’re cast as a Sleeper, a robot with a digitised human mind shorn of the memories of the person it was copied from. In the first game you were on the run from the firm that made you, attempting to wean your robot off its reliance on a stabilising drug. In the sequel you play a different Sleeper who has successfully managed to ditch Stabilizer, but at the cost...

Events

Freed from the time constraints of the Fringe, Gledhill delivers a heartfelt exploration of self-perception cloaked in a series of stand-out belly laugh routines

Culture

Return of inspirational captain will make a difference on the pitch, but taint of player misconduct is hard to eraseAntoine Dupont doesn’t do many interviews. “I don’t necessarily like to talk about myself,” he has said, “to do yet another interview where I talk about what I’ve done, how I’ve played, and how my game has evolved; honestly, it tires me more than anything else these days.” But after France’s last grand slam, he did sit down to record a podcast with the entrepreneur Alexandre Mars, which ended with a game of word association. “Rugby?” Mars says. “Ball,” Dupont replies. “Toulouse?” “Rugby”; “Galthié?” “Glasses”; “Travel?” “Family”; “Idol?” “Michalak”; “France 2023?” “Victory”; “Paris 2024?” “Victory.”Three years later, Dupont has notched up one of those last two achievements. Last summer he led the French sevens team to victory in the Paris Olympics in – shut your eyes and picture it – one of the great seven-minute stretches of sport, with two tries and an assist as they...

Politics

Environmental lawyer turned anti-vaccine activist has sparked fierce resistance from scientific communityRobert F Kennedy Jr, the environmental lawyer turned anti-vaccine activist, faces a watershed moment this week as the Senate confirmation hearings begin on his nomination as the US’s top health official, setting up what could be the most contentious cabinet battle of Donald Trump’s second administration.The 71-year-old Kennedy, whose nomination has sparked fierce resistance from the scientific establishment, would take control of a sprawling $1.8tn healthcare apparatus at a time when public trust in medical institutions remains deeply fractured along partisan lines. Continue reading...

Society

Friday's EuroMillions draw came with a gigantic £83million jackpot, with Allwyn now calling on the unidentified winner to come forward before they lose out on their claim.

Economics

Scoring for your country is the ultimate sporting honour – and these rugby players have all run over the line to score an impressive number of tries.

Sport

Rebels ‘here in Goma to stay’ and Rwandan official says advance will continue amid fears of regional warThe Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group has pushed south from Goma, the border city in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo that it captured this week, and declared its intention to remain in the city, as fears grow of a major regional war.“We are here in Goma to stay,” Corneille Nangaa, the head of the Congo River Alliance, a coalition of militias that includes M23, said at a press conference in Goma. “We are going to continue the march until Kinshasa,” he added, referring to Congo’s capital 1,000 miles away. Continue reading...

Events

Wynne, 53 - who took part in last year's Strictly Come Dancing- was caught on film by The Mail on Sunday this month making a vile sexual comment about one of the show's female hosts.

Culture

Smith’s forthcoming album, Based On A True Story, will be released in March 2025.

Politics

Strictly Come Dancing fans have been left divided by the BBC's decision to drop Wynne Evans from the Live Tour after he made 'inappropriate' comments towards his co-stars

Society

Millions of people receive the one-off tax-free payment

Economics

The league phase of the Champions League comes to a conclusion on Wednesday night, and a much changed Liverpool are set for a calmer evening than many other sides

Sport

President blames ‘confluence of bad decisions’ for crash that is believed to have killed everyone onboard; officials say 28 bodies recovered so farWashington plane crash: officials say no survivors expectedFirst confirmed victims of plane crash include figure-skating championsHow did Washington DC plane crash unfold? A visual guideMultiple media including the New York Times, Reuters and CNN are saying the Black Hawk helicopter was carrying three soldiers. No senior army officials were onboard, they reported, citing US defence officials.Multiple sources are now saying that about 60 people were onboard the American Airlines plane that collided with the helicopter. Continue reading...

Events

The Apple TV+ comedy has been off screens for nearly two years, but is back to its brilliant best in season four

Culture

The perma-dieting, toxic man-loving heroine of Helen Fielding’s books is easily written off as a product of her time. Claudia Cockerell on why she’s more relevant than ever

Politics

Strictly Come Dancing Live tour fans had something to say over Wynne Evans' absence.

Society

Among those set to face the new tax are some models of Porsche, Lotus, Lamborghini and McLaren

Economics

Only one player in the current Scotland squad makes the list.

Sport

Mannix Pedro, 37, and Junior Kunu, 30, are charged with conspiring with others to commit robbery after watches worth more than £1 million were stolen.

Events

Mac Miller, Amy Winehouse, and more continue to dominate the streaming services —even after their passing 🎶

Culture

The dual mask works to treat the face and neck but it doesn’t come cheap

Politics

Strictly Come Dancing Live tour fans had something to say over Wynne Evans' absence, after it was confirmed he would be taking a step back from his professional work

Society

A winner is yet to come forward after matching all five main numbers and both Lucky Star numbers in last Friday’s draw

Economics

Luke Shaw is back in contention after his latest injury setback

Sport

Yvette Cooper is pressing ahead with plans her party previously opposed as campaigners warn measures will only increase trafficking

Events

Directed by the Strictly Come Dancing judge, 'NOW That's What I Call A Musical' at the Opera House celebrates 40 years of iconic and chart-topping compilation albums

Culture

Tony Lankester’s tenure will get underway in April.

Politics

London dominated this year’s edition of the annual list, with a strong showing throughout

Society

On average, workers were refunded £943 each

Economics

League phase comes to an end this week as focus shifts to the knockout stages

Sport

Officials say 27 bodies recovered from plane and one from helicopter as rescue mission turns into recovery effort after plane carrying 64 people collided with military helicopterWashington plane crash: officials say no survivors expectedCrash near Washington DC: what we know so farWorld champion Russian pair and US skaters were onboard crashed planeMultiple media including the New York Times, Reuters and CNN are saying the Black Hawk helicopter was carrying three soldiers. No senior army officials were onboard, they reported, citing US defence officials.Multiple sources are now saying that about 60 people were onboard the American Airlines plane that collided with the helicopter. Continue reading...

Events

After a brush with death pushed Othuke Ominiabohs to self-publish his novels, he realised there was a gap in the market for fresh African writingIn a hospital bed fearing his death was imminent, English teacher Othuke Ominiabohs thought ruefully of his four unpublished novels. “My biggest regret was I was going to die, and no one would see my work,” says Ominiabohs. “When I got better, I decided to self-publish and put those books out there for the rest of the world to read.”His kidney failure was later cured by a transplant, and his literary ambitions led him to found Masobe Books, one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing independent publishers. Continue reading...

Culture

Whether tempted by the temperatures of Puglia in March or Pembrokeshire’s craggy coastline, here’s some inspiration for a trip to step into spring

Politics

Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Hoess oversaw the slaughter of around 1.1 million Jews, along with 20,000 gypsies and tens of thousands of Polish and Russian political prisoners.

Society

Four Ayrshire organisations are set to receive almost £2 million in funding over the next three years following the announcement from Creative Scotland

Economics

Man City must win their final league-phase match to secure a place in the knockout stages

Sport

The 90-minute documentary, with the working title Grenfell, comes from Rogan Productions.

Events